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Velzeke

Between the Carolingian and Ottonian periods, Velzeke was an important regional power centre and shared its history with the neighbouring Ename. The contemporary visitors can appreciate Velzeke Museum with new interactive ways for presenting the archaeological finds as well as Ottonian parts of the St. Martin Church.

Modern Era – Today

Archaeological Research

The oldest important source mentioning archaeological discoveries in Velzeke is due to Marcus van Vaernewyck (1518-1569). He mentions the substantial presence of Roman stone structures and finds of coins, pottery and statuettes. Remarkable is his attention for the existence of an early medieval site near the church, referred to as ‘die Stadt van Lothrijck’. An Early Iron Age urn came into the possession of canon Martin De Bast who donated in 1823 his archaeological collection to Ghent University.26 In 1953 the first scientific excavation was carried out by the same university under the direction of prof. Sigfried De Laet. One of his students, Marc Rogge, continued the archaeological work in the sixties and seventies of last century and became eventually curator of the Archaeological Museum.27Fig. 39

Fig. 39: Excavations around 1970 of a Gallo-Roman dwelling in the center of the vicus (Archaeological Park) under the direction of Marc Rogge. Credit: The Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke

In the same period valuable research was done by amateurs as schoolmaster Jozef Janssens, Wilfried Jamée and dr. Luc Van Durme, who also excavated the Merovingian cemetery of Buzegem in 1969. The formal National Service for Excavations investigated a temple under the direction of F. Meex and prof. Jozef Mertens in 1975.28 Conscious of the importance of the site the town of Zottegem and the Province of East-Flanders took the responsibility of the archaeological work and the museum. Further systematic, still ongoing (rescue) excavations came gradually into the hands of a new generation of archaeologists as Kurt Braeckman, Johan De Schieter, Guy De Mulder, Peter Van der Plaetsen and Tineke De Wandel.29 This staff is now based in the Provincial Archaeological Museum on the site. Prof. Marc Van Meirevenne of Ghent University actually carries out geophysical prospection. Fig. 40Fig. 41 The archaeological research is mainly concentrated on the Gallo-Roman vicus, and sites in the neighbourhood, but since 1995 excavations in and around the Saint Martin’s church gradually reveal Velzeke’s Carolingian and Ottonian past.30

Fig. 41: Geophysical prospection by a team of Ghent University (Universiteit Gent) in the center of the vicus. Credit: The Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke

Site today

Thanks to the efforts of the Province of East-Flanders and the town of Zottegem the site and the Archaeological Museum stand as a reference in the Belgian and European cultural landscape. Its management combines heritage protection, conservation, museum responsibilities, scientific research, education and tourism. Only a part of the archaeological site, mainly represented by the Gallo-Roman vicus, belongs to the museum complex. The museum buildings are connected to the reconstruction of a Roman garden and an archaeological park where the stone foundations of a Roman dwelling are kept in situ and a wood-fired Roman glass furnace is reconstructed, whereas the adjacent ground hides the unexcavated remnants of a small Roman fortress.31Fig. 42Fig. 43 It is in the intention to proceed to the reconstruction of other ancient buildings in the park after the new extension of the museum is finished. Fig. 44

Fig. 42: Aerial view of the Museum and the Archaeological Park with the foundations of a Gallo-Roman dwelling and on-going re-enactment. Credit: J. Semey, Ghent University, Department of Archaeology

Fig. 43: Glass-blowers at work in the reconstructed Roman glass furnace in the Archaeological Park. Credit: The Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke

Fig. 44: Project of the extension of the new museum wing (left) associated to the existing buildings (right). Credit: The Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum Velzeke

The excavation team is stand-by for rescue excavations on the non-protected parts of vicus, and for the region as well. The Saint Martin’s church is free for visitors and shows at the exterior substantial Ottonian parts, especially in its impressive choir. Guided tours are organized along the on-going excavations, the museum complex and archaeological park, and the church. A special room in the museum is planned for the 3D-reconstruction of the church, a monumental evocation of its wall-paintings and the presentation of the associated archaeological finds. The reconstruction of a Carolingian scriptorium is taken into consideration.

Partners

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The project is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.